Turf for saline conditions

Being near the coast should never restrict your ability to grow turf of the first quality. For many golf courses, for example, a clifftop location is part of the attraction. Even in locations that are distant from the sea, salinity can be a problem caused by rising levels of salt in ground water and an increasing reliance on recycled water for irrigation. Salinity also affects the verges of winter-salted roads.

Salt inhibits the growth of normal grass strains. So we've developed a range of salt-tolerant turf mixtures. They let you grow a lush and hard-wearing green turf that performs well in defiance of windswept seaspray. For golf greens, for example, we recommend creeping bent grass. And for more severe salinity, our Coastal sites mixture PM90 Coastal is ideal.

Salt-tolerance backed by science

Using sophisticated greenhouse tests, we've identified the most salt-tolerant varieties of species such as tall fescue and slender creeping red fescue. Before we release a variety, we put it through a 180-day salt test. This lets us check that it meets your needs – for coastal locations, for sport or amenity use, and for turf irrigated with recycled water.

After a variety becomes established we put it through a more demanding test in which we raise the salt content until it matches the 3% salinity of sea water. By scoring each variety for salt-tolerance, we can compare with other varieties sold for salt-tolerance. Our varieties score best in these comparisons.